This Day in Boxing: Muhammad Ali Would Have Turned 82, and Jake Paul Turns 27; Let’s Take a Look at Common Traits of Both Famous Figures

At first glance, nobody would think of comparing one of the boxing greats, Muhammad Ali, with Jake Paul. However, there is one similarity between both that can not be denied! Both Ali and Jake share the same birth date, 17 January. Ali, born in Louisville, Kentucky, in the year 1942, would have turned 82 today. On the other hand, Paul, born in the year 1997 in Cleveland, Ohio, turns 27. 

However, it begs the question – is there anything else apart from their date of birth that is similar between them? Here’s a look into the similarities between both boxers!

Jake Paul and Muhammad Ali: A comparison

Back in December last year, Jake shared a story on his Instagram account of a report from the Wall Street Journal. It highlighted the trash-talking tradition Ali had kick-started, and nearly no one is better at trash-talking than Jake Paul. So, there’s one similarity between them! However, Don Davis thinks Jake is similar to Muhammad Ali in one more aspect of combat sports. According to The Sun, back in February 2023, before Paul clashed with Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia, the founder of PFL drew similarities between them. 

“If you look at each of them individually, Jake is the best marketer and promoter we’ve seen in combat sports ever. Maybe since Muhammad Ali,” said Davis. In Paul’s defense, Paul has generated a lot of attention in the boxing world since he got into it in 2018. Additionally, he has participated in his fair share of high-profile fights, raking in millions of dollars. However, the comparison from Davis did not sit well with the fans and neither with one of UFC’s greats. 

UFC Heavyweight questions Davis’ comparison

In a YouTube video shared on the platform on 3 February 2023, Daniel Cormier contemplated whether there is a comparison between Ali and Paul. “Is there a comparison between Jake Paul and Muhammad Ali?… I don’t agree,” said Cormier. He goes on to confess that the Paul brothers are social media giants, and he has newfound respect for Paul.

“But anytime you place anyone in a category with Muhammad Ali, you are going to get [a] kickback, especially a category that he dominated,” said Cormier. Furthermore, Cornier questioned Davis’ decision to put Jake on the same level as Muhammad Ali. “But come on, Don Davis, you’re putting them on the same level as Muhammad Ali. We all lie, but come on, man,” said Cormier.

Also Read: Jake Paul Shows Interest in Fighting Against Both Muhammad Ali’s Grandsons in a Boxing and MMA Fight

As the world celebrates the birth anniversary of one of the greatest boxers in the history of sport, these were the things common between Ali and Paul. Are there other similarities between them?

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